Final answer:
Step 10 in the accounting processing cycle involves calculating the current account balance by totaling the amounts in the Exports, Imports, and Balance columns to measure a country's trade performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is based on the accounting processing cycle, specifically focusing on the processes towards the end of an accounting period. Step 10, which is the matter in focus, involves the summation of the columns for Exports, Imports, and Balance in order to determine the current account balance. This measure of balance is crucial as it reflects the net value of a country's external transactions, that is, the difference between the value of exports of goods and services and the value of imports. It's an important indicator of a nation's economic health. In practice, you would list down all export and import transactions over the period and calculate a balance for each. The first number under the 'Balance' column will be the starting point, and as you add or subtract according to exports and imports, you will reach the final current account balance which shows the country's external trade performance.