European Steel Imports Cut

All steel imports from the European Community except steel pipes and tubes have been halted because the 10 member governments have failed to approve an agreement made Nov. 1 to limit European shipments, the U.S. Customs Service said today.

The Reagan Administration is trying to hold down imports of steel to preserve orders and jobs in the domestic steel industry. European approval of the accord was held up because Britain wants assurances it can ship at least 300,000 tons of unfinished steel next year to a plant in Tuscaloosa, Ala., in which the British have an interest, according to a European source.