The invention relates to using a combination of an aminopolycarboxylic acid or salt thererof with a carboxylic acid having only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in its molecule or salt thererof as retarder for calcium sulfoaluminate belite cements; by a method of retarding the setting of calcium sulfoaluminate belite binder by adding a combination of an aminopolycarboxylic acid or salt thererof with a carboxylic acid having only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in its molecule or salt thererof to the cement and to a calcium sulfoaluminate belite binder with controlled setting comprising at least 70 % by weight calcium sulfoaluminate belite cement obtained from a calcium sulfoaluminate belite clinker containing at least 20 wt.-% by weight belite and a combination of at least one aminopolycarboxylic acid or salt thererof with at least one of a carboxylic acid having only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in its molecule or salt thererof.