(File photo)

Every Fourth of July, Americans celebrate their independence day with fireworks, national flags, and outdoor barbecues. According to VOX, a US media company, most of these holiday essentials are imported from China.

A survey report released by the US Census Bureau last Friday showed that among the $300 million worth of imported fireworks in 2016, a whopping 96 percent of them were manufactured in China, most of which come from Hunan province. Around 400,000 people in Liuyang, Hunan, or about 1/3 of the city’s total population, are engaged in the firework industry.

Americans love cooking outside, especially during the holiday. The LA Times reported that the sales volume of outdoor grills and grilling accessories exceeds one billion US dollars every year. In fact, the majority of outdoor grills sold in the US in 2016 were made in China, according to the research company IBISWorld. Weber-Stephen, one of the most time-honored grill suppliers, introduced its most significant products to China in 2017.

Moreover, a large number of the American flags used in the holiday celebrations come from China. VOX reported that while the US remains a net exporter of flags, it still imports $5.4 million of national flags, the majority of which from China.

US President Donald Trump likes to tell his supporters to “Buy American,” but the reality is that price is the top on the list for consumers, which has made “Made in China” successful, VOX commented.